Officials say the original estimate was for $172 million. The department said Wednesday that a team working on the replacement of the bridge has found $12 million in savings.

The new figure includes the cost of the design, engineering, property acquisition and construction of the new bridge.

The bridge across the Piscataqua River between Kittery and Portsmouth, N.H., is scheduled to be replaced in 2014. It's currently closed for repairs after an oil tanker hit it. And a new Memorial Bridge is scheduled to open this summer.

The only bridge open between the two communities is the Piscataqua River Bridge on Interstate 95.